(Columbia, SC) – Today, Governor Mark Sanford held a press conference to again address the distracting issues surrounding his administration. House Speaker Bobby Harrell made the following statement about the Governor’s media event:

“The Governor’s press conference today proves the points we laid out in the letter we sent Governor Sanford earlier this week. The distractions continue, and now he is calling out the Ethics Commission and accusing them of being part of a conspiracy against him.

“In my meeting last week with the Ethics Commission Executive Director, which occurred after Governor Sanford waived confidentiality, he confirmed for me the existence of the investigation, and the process and timeline the Commission would follow. He also told me that they would give a report to the General Assembly at the same time they gave it to the Attorney General, who is the person who requested the Ethics Commission investigation.

“These distractions need to end and we need to get South Carolina focused on creating jobs and improving education in our state.

“We really need to look at the larger issue brought about by the Governor’s insistence to hold a press conference today. Every day that we have to deal with these issues surrounding Governor Sanford is another day where it is incredibly difficult to focus on the issues that South Carolinians care about the most.”